The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1887-05-07

~ lueIe HOW yOuu near tho cattle calls. or
think you do. This is the very witching hour
and tho very season for it."
"Done," cried Theo. "Let us go, boys"
1t was agreed to at once. The kettles were
filled with cold sap, the fire pulled away so
that no harm might occur to tho partly re
duced syrup, and the party moved toward the
open ground.
"Your wager" said Dan to R., ''is hardly
fair. II Theodore denies hearing or seeing,
you lose."
"Oh, you can trust Seven Day Baptist"
called out William, which provoked small
laugh.
''It is just the night for ghosts" (" said Capt.
John, looking about
He was right. The moon in its second
quarter furnished all tho light The sky was
flecked with small, high up, slow moving
clouds, and to fancy quckened by the eerie
tale just told the air seemed filled with fit
ting shadows and phantonls. "The chances
are all against me, said Theo, who had joined
i'll the small laugh, recurring to Dams re-
mark. "This whole old region is filled with
ghosts. can't take step without soaring
up broods and focks of old tino memories,
spirits of the departed. This morning went
out into the south woods, where Decide and
used to hunt, 60 for chestnuts, loaf and play.
The woods are haunted. could not breathe
was choked, sutfocated. rushed out into
the open fields, and US l turned and looked
back could almost see human forms stand
ing under tho trees, bcckoning to me-"
"Oh, you'll find him all right" said Monroe
i'll an assuring voice
The dear old region had been noted
famous, In sad way, for tho number of its
suicides. twas inevitable that the list should
be gono over with as they leisurely passed
over the high rolling ground on their way to
the haunted run u half mile away
1t stood solitary OH gentle eastern slope,
surrounded-hidden. in fact-by trees and
small growths, which they approached on its
dark side, now black III contrast with the
gray landscape dimly lit by the slender moon.
Prepared, expectant, their voices fell low,
md ceased as they passed the east sitlo OF the
trees and growths to the front OH the south
side. Tho outline was awry. the large doors
ajar warped and partly fallen, the roof rot
ten and in several places open-decay, tescr-
tion and utter silence seemed to brood over
the ruins
Slowly they advanced, and suddenly halted,
us by an electric impulse Even r. seemed
taken by surprise, who the hair of tho
strangers they felt lifting itself on their
scalps. Was it common illusion of tho
scnscs' Was it a real voice? While in tho
gruesomc presence it was real.
What did tell yous" whispered r.
"By tho holies," brcathed Thco, as they
listened to the once familiar accent,
tho old calls, and names, for minute
or two, and then r. led the way
to tho black opening of the half ln-
hinged doors. They gained the floor, and in
the darkness, not so dense under tho openings
of the roof but that the inside, the heavy
tilnbers the posts, huge beams and scatTolds,
dark and gallows, were easily distinguished,
and there OH their left, squat on the squared
timber, was the dark wavcring outline of tho
cerie form. There was no installing it, as
those who cast their eyes up felt assured. A
half minute and one of the party struck
match, then another, and another, till each of
the party held short lived taper in his hand,
supplied by another rs its short, brief flame
vanished. Their united power was ample to
reveal the empty, silent desolation of the
cherries interior There was some of the
litter straw and hay, where protected from
the rain and snow, here and there, but 10
sign of living thing, not even a rat The
swallows seemed no longer to build there.
"'rhc very spiders no longer spin webs there"
40 iSo Sam u! o~A Wuld. Aucy WcuU Ouu.
Whether by tho design of any of them,
most likely by an easily accounted for ncci-
dent, ono or moro Of the lighted matches fell
upon the dry straw and hay, and almost in
simultaneously the tindery inside was in q
flame. They had scarcely gained the outside
when it was discovered.
Lucky" exclaimed II. "I wonder we
never thought of it BEFORE" folding his arms.
"Let 'er burn" said Capt. John, re-echocd
by the rest. They had 10 choice The flash
ing, leaping, licking flames ran up the edges
of the weather boards, caught the dry edge of
the roof, and in five minutes tho empty shell
was u roaring fame. In thirty minutes, save
where the thick plank or heavy timbcrs
touched, so as to ad each other, the active
combustion had ceased
Moving away to avoid the heat, tho boys
stood watching tho rapid progress of tho
burning, and when it subsidel to rcd glow,
and the sinking moon and far Off stars re-
sumed their wonted reign over the warm,
calm spring night, they thoughtfully moved
away, yet with sense of relief Cleveland
Leader.